Wards



No-Modem J. E. EDWARDS SCHOOL BAG.

No. 511,690. 'Patented Dec. 2 6, 1893.

UNTTn STATES PATENT Orrron.

JOHN EDIVARD EDlVARDS, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

SCHOOL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 51 1,690, dated December 26, 1893.

Application filed September 14, 1893. Serial No. 485,461, (No model.) Patented in Canada February 20, 1893, No. 42,055.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARD ED- WARDS, manufacturer, of the city of Toronto, 1n the county of York, in the Province of Ontarlo, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in School-Bags, Military Haversacks or Knapsacks, and such Like Articles, of which the following is a specificatlon, this invention having been patented to me in the Dominion of Canada under date of February 20, 1893, No. 42,055.

My invention relates to improvements in school bags, haversacks, knapsacks and such like articles and the object of the invention 1s, first, to provide a simple means whereby the flap for the school bag may be closed and held so while it is being carried without the necessity of using buckles; secondly, to provide means whereby it may in addition be carried as a knapsack, and, thirdly, to construct the bag or receptacle in the form of a haversack and provide means for not only closing the flap of the haversack but also for holding it when rolled or folded and it conslsts essentially, first, of securing a cross bar by straps attached to the front of the bag beneath the closed down position of the flap, the cross bar being held slightly above the top of the bag, so as to close the flap by its straps by means of the carrying strap of the bag, which extends beneath the cross bar; secondly, of securing a loop near the bottom edge of the back of the bag through which the carrying strap is passed after having been passed beneath the cross bar, and, thirdly, 1n providing depending loops at the ends of the closing straps, which when the haversaok is folded up are slipped over the ends of the cross bar thereby serving to hold the haversack in the folded or rolled condition as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1, is a perspective view ofa bag designed to be carried in the ordinary way. Fig. 2, is a view showing my bag thrown open. Fig. 3, is a view showing the adaptability of the bag as a knapsack. Fig. 4, shows an alternative way of carrying the bag. Fig. 5, is a cross section through the cross bar. Fig. 6,is

a detail of the haversack unfolded. Fig.7, is a detail of the haversack folded up. Fig. 8, is across section showing the arrangement of the straps.

In the drawings like letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A, is the body of the bag, B, the flap and, O, the straps which are stitched at, 0, below the position which the flap will assume when the bag is closed. The upper ends of the straps, G, extend around the cross bar, D, and are riveted to the strap as shown.

E, is the carrying strap which is secured preferably by stitching at, e, and, e, at the back of the bag. When the bag is closed as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the carrying strap is inserted between the cross bar and the top of the bag and pulled tight. The flap, B, is folded down as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, being held between the free ends of the straps, B, and the body of the bag by the binding position of the ends of the straps, D, as shown in these figures.

When it is desired to open the bag the carryin g strap has to be withdrawn from its position between the top of the bag and the cross bar, D, and the flap, B, thrown up and the cross bar thrown down into the position shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to carry my bag after the manner of a knapsack I provide a loop, F, which I secure at the bottom of the back of the bag and pass the carrying strap forward through-it thus forming two large loops through which the arms may be inserted so as to throw the bag over the shoulders in the manner commonly understood.

In Fig. 4, I show the carrying strap passed around the back of the bag in a peculiar manner. The straps, E, in this case are attached as shown in Fig. 3, to the back of the bag and first passed beneath the cross bar, D, then over it and around the back and front of the bag as indicated by dotted and full lines in Fig. 4, where the straps, E, pass again underneath the cross bar and form a loop extending above the cross bar by which loop the bag may be carried.

In Fig. 5, it will be seen that the cross bar, D, is made hollow, so that pencils may be inserted therein, one of the ends formingacap so as to retain the pencils within the cross bar which thus forms a very convenient holder for pencils.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8, I fasten the closing strap, 0, by rivets o, to the face of the bag ICO beneath the position in which the flap will assume when closed down and extend these straps forming depending loops, 0', as shown. When the bag is folded up as shown in Figs. 7 and 5 by being turned inwardly from the face, these depending loops, 0', are slipped over the ends of the cross bar, D, thereby serving to securely hold the haversack together when folded. In the case of the haversack, of course, the belt or carrying strap, E, would be merely passed beneath the cross bar and the weight of the bag coming upon the belt and the cross bar would of course serve to keep the closing strap, 0, taut and the flap closed.

Formerly in school bags the weight of the bag was carried upon the ends of the carrying strap but it will be seen from my invention that the cross bar, D, serves to distribute the weight between the ends of the carrying strap and the ends of the closing strap thereby equalizing it and as a consequence making the bag last for a much longer time.

I am aware that it is not new to provide bags with a closing strap or cord and that such closing strap or cord has been provided with the handle, which may be inserted through the cord so as to draw the bag together at the top in creases or folds. In this formof closing strap or cord as the top of the bag had to be drawn together in order to close it the capacity of the bag was materially reduced and such bag was very inconvenient to carry against the back on account of such creases or folds. In my invention, however, the cross bar is attached to the bag by straps which are secured beneath the closed position of the flaps and the strap which is fastened at the back of the bag is passed through beneath this cross bar, so that the bag when the carryin g strap is drawn tight is completely closed by the flap and the full capacity of the bag may be utilized. It may be also carried upon the shoulders and the back without any inconvenience. The cross bar in my case is of course not designed for a handle nor can it be used as such except in conjunction with the end of the carrying strap. From this description it will be seen that I provide a very simple and effective manner of keeping the bag securely closed no matter in which position it may be carried.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a bag, knapsack or haversack having a suitable flap a cross bar with strap connections from the ends of the bar to the front face of the bag below the closed down position of theflap and a carrying strap having its ends secured to the back of the bag near the upper edge, the loop formed by said carrying strap passing between the bar and the flap being designed by the tension on the said carrying strap to hold the strap connections taut as and for the purposespecified.

2. In a school bag having a suitable flap, a cross bar with strap connections from the ends of the bar to the front face of the bag below the closed down position of the flap, a loop upon the back of the bag near the bottom, and a carrying strap having its ends secured to the back of the bag near the upper edge,

the loop formed by said carrying strap pass-- ing between the bar and the flap, and having its central portion loosely held by the loop,

substantially as described.

3. In a bag, knapsack or haversack having a suitable flap a cross bar with strap connections from the ends of the bar to the front face of the bag below the closed down position of the flap, depending loops extending from the fastening of the closing straps and designed to fit over the end of the cross bar when the bag is folded and acarrying strap having its ends secured tov the back of the bag near the upper edge, the loop formed by said carrying strap passing between the bar and the flap and being designed by the tension on the said carrying strap to hold the strap connections taut as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN EDWARD EDWARDS. Witnesses:

B. BOYD, H. H. YOUNG. 

